I’m sharing gardening tips on cleaning garden tools for beginner gardeners today. It’s imperative that you keep your garden tools sanitized. Gardening season is here, so lets get this task done.
Importance of Cleaning Garden Tools:
First, cleaning gardening tools is task that most gardeners do when they close their garden for the season. Using unsanitary tools can spread disease to your plants. Imagine all your beautiful flowers and veggies being diseased simply because you missed a task that should be performed yearly.
Fortunately, cleaning your tools in the spring is as effective as cleaning them in the fall. As a result, it’s not too late. Tools need to be cleaned regularly to avoid spreading disease. Cleaning your tools regularly also helps prevent rust, dirt build-up and helps keep them sharp. Keeping your tools in good condition will help cut down on your gardening expense too. Purchasing new tools over and over can get expensive, and it’s an unnecessary if you care for what you have.
Clean the Following Garden Tools with the Baking Soda Method:
- trowels
- loppers
- scissors
- by-pass shears
- pruning shear
- spade
- garden fork
- shovels
- rakes
- hoes
Note: Make sure you wash your gardening gloves with a good non-chlorine bleach throughout the gardening season too.
Cleaning Garden Tools Steps:
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Rubbing Alcohol (at least 70%)
- Rags
- Wire Brush
- Newspaper or Cardboard Box
- Use a garden hose to remove any lose dirt from your garden tools. Dry the towels and proceed to the next step.
- Make a Paste with the Baking Soda and Water – It should be thick, but thin enough to spread on the blades of your tools without crumbling.
- Allow the paste to penetrate the blades of the tools for at least an hour or two.
- Use your wire brush to remove any rust and grime.
- Wipe the baking soda paste from the tools with a wipe cloth.
Disinfect the tools by wiping the blades and handles with Isopropyl Alcohol and a clean rag. The alcohol should be at least 70%; however, I use a 91% brand. You can use the alcohol directly from the bottle without diluting it. You can purchase alcohol from the dollar store, CVS, Wal-greens, Walmart etc.
Add this task to your gardening schedule at least once a year. However, twice a year is good. I like to clean my tools mid-season and than in early spring if time doesn’t allow me to clean them in the fall. Again spring or fall is appropriate, just make sure you clean them.
Also, if you use the tools on a diseased plant or an area in your garden that has been infected, clean your tools immediately. This is important, you don’t want to further spread any diseases. You may also like common garden diseases.
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